370 - November 24, 1967

[bunniefuu]

Maggie narrating] - Time has been suspended at Collinwood.

It waits for the completion of an uncertain

and frightening journey into the past,

back to the year .

The young woman who has made this strange journey

has already learned that, over the years,

the history of the Collins family

has somehow been twisted to conceal certain truths.

She will soon learn that the past holds as much evil

and terror as the present.

- Good afternoon, Angelique.

- Good afternoon, Monsieur Collins.

- Have you seen Sarah?

- Why no, not since this morning.

- She must be in the playroom.

- Oh, Monsieur Collins.

Do you -- do you know what this is?

- Why, yes.

That's a member of the regiment.

- A what? The regiment?

- That -- that was what my nephew, Barnabas,

called his set of toy soldiers.

- Oh.

then it did belong to Monsieur Barnabas?

- They were his favorite toys when he was a boy.

Where did you find it?

- Oh, I -- when I was cleaning,

I found it behind the chest in my room.

- Oh, well, it should be in the playroom.

Give it to me and I'll take it there now.

- Well, it --

would it be all right if I put it back there later?

I'd like to look at it for awhile.

It's such a fascinating little toy.

- Very well.

Look at it all you like.

[thinking] - So!

It did belong to Barnabas.

Good!

It's just what I need --

and no one will ever know

that such a harmless little plaything

will cause Barnabas more pain and suffering

than he has ever known!

♪♪

[eerie music] ♪♪

- Excuse me, I didn't know anyone was in here.

- Oh, I was just admiring the portrait over the mantle.

You are Sarah's governess?

- Yes. I am Victoria Winters.

- I am Angelique Bouchard.

- Yes, you arrived here last night with Ms. duPres' aunt. - Yes.

- I expect that you won't have very much to do

until Ms. duPres gets here, will you?

- Oh, I will manage to keep myself busy.

- You know, I think we have several things in common.

We are both servants in this house,

and we are both in a place that is foreign to us.

- You are not an American?

- Well, yes, I am.

- Then why do you say this place is foreign to you?

- It would be much too difficult to make you understand.

- Some of the things I understand might surprise you.

I have to go to my room. I have something to do.

- Angelique,

I have a feeling that it is going to be very hard for

either of us to make friends in this house,

so I do hope that we can be friends.

- Oh, I'm sure we will be.

Good day.

- Oh, good afternoon, Ms. Winters.

- How are you, Mr. Collins?

- Fine.

I was looking for Sarah. Do you know where she is?

- Yes. She is taking her nap.

- Well, you must be a very fine governess indeed.

- And why do you say that?

- Well, Sarah's energy was a bit too much

for the last governess.

She could never get her to bed during the day.

How did you do it?

- Oh, I used a very simple method.

I told her she was going to take a nap.

- Ms. Winters,

I hope you've decided to stay with us for a while.

- Well, actually, I have very little choice in the matter.

- You make it sound as if you're under an obligation to stay.

- Oh, it isn't that.

But if I leave here, I have no place to go.

- Well, you could go back to where you came from.

- Is that a way of asking me where I came from?

- Yes. Yes, I suppose it is.

- Well, I told you, I don't know.

- And you still can't remember how you got here?

- And you still find that very hard to believe?

- Well, I suppose all of us do.

Perhaps, it is possible for an attractive young lady

to materialize out of thin air,

but I have to see it before I believe it.

- Well, I just hope that you don't share your sister's

theory about me.

- Which is what?

- That I am a creature possessed with the devil.

- [chuckles]

You mustn't pay too much attention to what Abigail says.

She has a very vivid, and sometimes,

reckless imagination.

- She told me that if I made one mistake,

she'd have me thrown out.

- This is Joshua Collins' house, not hers.

- But she seems to have a great deal of influence over him.

- Not as much as I do.

- Why are you so kind to me?

- Well, I find you all together mysterious

and very charming.

Have I offended you?

- Oh, no, no,

it's -- it's just that you look so much like --

- Like someone you once knew.

Yes, you said that when we met.

I'm sorry if the resemblance disturbs you.

- Don't be sorry. I'm not.

- Was this person someone you loved?

He's someone that I still love, very much.

- And is he the reason you may leave us one day?

- Right now,

he is my reason for staying here.

♪♪

♪♪

- You have an important duty to perform, little soldier.

Shall I tell you what it is?

No.

I'll let you be as surprised as everyone else.

Do you know what this is?

It's a handkerchief

and it belongs to Barnabas.

You and one handkerchief

are all I need

to make him regret what he has done to me.

[knocking on door]

Just a minute.

- May I come in, Angelique?

- Aren't you afraid someone might see you

in a servant's quarters?

- I came here to tell you that I'm sorry

about what happened last night.

I see no reason why we can't be good friends.

- Merely good friends?

- Anything else would be quite out of the question.

You can see that, can't you?

- I can only see one thing, Barnabas.

- And what is that?

- The real reason you came here.

- Angelique.

- You didn't come here just to tell me

you wanted to be friends. - Yes, I did.

- No, no, my darling.

You could have told me that anywhere else in the house.

You didn't have to come to my room to do it.

But you did come.

Oh and I'm very glad!

- Angelique, listen to me.

- You cannot resist me, Barnabas,

just as I cannot resist you.

- You don't understand now

any more than you did last night.

- Yes, I do understand.

Our destiny was sealed those nights in Martinique.

You haven't forgotten those nights, have you?

- I will never forget them.

- Nor will l.

What we meant to each other those nights --

that is the only reality.

Do you understand?

The only reality.

- No, Angelique.

- I told you, you cannot resist me.

- Yes, I can and I will!

- You didn't just now.

- I admit you are difficult to resist,

but I lost control of myself for a moment.

I'm sorry.

- You didn't lose control of yourself.

- You let me do what you wanted me to do.

- Very well then, perhaps, you're right.

So, in the future,

it will be best if we don't see each other alone anywhere.

- When two people are in love,

nothing can prevent them from being drawn to one another.

- I will not be drawn to you.

Do you understand?

I'm going to marry Josette because I love her.

And any relationship with you would be quite wrong.

- You only think you love Josette.

- Angelique, stop making this so difficult for me.

- So, so all those sweet words you said to me in Martinique --

they all meant nothing!

Is that what you're trying to tell me?

- They meant something then but only then.

- It was an experience of the moment and nothing more?

- Angelique, don't think of it that way.

- You have given me no choice.

And now, I would appreciate it if you would leave my room.

I would like to be alone.

- May we still be friends?

I will always be much closer to you than you think.

Good day, Barnabas.

[lock clicks]

♪♪

- No,

no, it would be foolish to do it now.

I will wait until Josette arrives.

It would be wrong if she weren't here

to see Barnabas suffer.

♪♪

[horses approaching]

[knocking on door]

- Well, at last.

I began to think the great Collins family

had abandoned their estate,

not to mention their reason or good manners.

- I beg your pardon?

- And well you may, young lady.

No one to greet us at the ship,

no carriage waiting for us in Boston,

and now, no sign of a family greeting for the bride.

- The bride?

- Have you taken leave of your senses, young lady?

I am Andre duPres!

I am here with my daughter, Josette.

Josette?

After you, my dear.

- You are Josette!

- Oui.

- Why, who did you think -- you think she was?

- I'm -- I'm sorry, no one.

- And may I ask who you are?

- I'm Victoria Winters. - Mm-hmm,

you work -- work for the Collins family?

- Yes.

I am the governess to Sarah.

Please, won't you come in and sit down?

- Well, I'd rather stand, thank you.

I also would like someone to tell me where I might find

a member of the Collins family.

- Oh, Poppa, please be patient.

- I have been patient for three months of constant traveling.

Now, we finally arrived and there is no one to meet us --

except one servant.

I pray this is not an example of the Collins' hospitality.

- I assure you, Mr. duPres, it is not.

How do you do, sir?

I am Jeremiah Collins. - How do you do?

This is my daughter, Josette.

- A pleasure.

- I had expected to be met by Joshua Collins.

Perhaps, you can tell me where he is and why isn't he here.

- Your ship was two weeks over due. - Mm-hmm.

- Had we known what day you would have arrived,

the whole family would have been there to meet you.

- The blasted ship was driven off course by a storm.

There was very little we could do to prevent that,

now, could we?

- Sir, there was no other way for us to know

when you would arrive. - Hmm.

No, I suppose not.

Well, I'll feel better after a good hot bath and some sleep.

- I'll have one of the servants prepare a bath for you at once.

That is very considerate of you, thank you.

- Is something wrong?

- I beg your pardon?

- Well, is there some reason you keep staring at me?

- No, none. I'm very sorry.

- You must forgive Ms. Winters.

She's only been with us a few days.

She comes from another part of the country

and is not yet accustomed to the way we speak and dress.

- Oh, I see.

- Ms. Winters, I'm sure Sarah is through with her nap by now.

- Yes, of course. Excuse me.

- Ms. duPres, if you'd like to wait here in the drawing room,

and make yourself comfortable, I'm sure that Barnabas will --

will be along momentarily.

- Why, thank you.

- Mr. duPres, I'll be happy to show you to your room, now.

- Very good sir.

Well, no more traveling for a while.

What a pleasure.

- Oh, Mademoiselle!

- Angelique!

[speaking French]

- What a beautiful language!

But not as beautiful as you are.

- Barnabas.

- Josette, my love.

Welcome to your new home.

[thinking] - Hold him close, Mademoiselle.

Make the most of this moment.

He won't be yours much longer.

♪♪

- Oh, Angelique --

is my room ready?

- Oui, Mademoiselle.

I spent all day yesterday arranging it

as I thought you would like.

- Then, would you please unpack my things for me?

- Of course.

- It seems like three years since we've seen each other.

- It's been only three months.

- I know,

but I was afraid I might never see you again.

- Did you think I had forgotten you in that short time?

- No.

But your ship was so late arriving,

I -- began to think something had happened to you at sea.

- Well, it was a very unpleasant voyage,

but it's all over now.

And I am where I want very much to be,

in your arms.

- I love you, Josette.

- And I love you very much.

- Wake up, little soldier.

The time has come for duty.

My mistress has arrived

to prepare for her wedding.

But there isn't going to be any wedding, is there?

Hmm?

There, now everything is ready.

We'll start with just a little pressure --

just enough to make him slightly uncomfortable.

- Barnabas, what is it?

- Nothing.

My collar is just a little tight, that's all.

There, that's better.

Now, tell me about your stay in Paris.

- Oh, there's plenty of time to talk about that.

First, I want to meet the rest of your family,

and then, I want to see the rest of your estate.

- Very well,

then you shall be treated to the grand tour --

after one more kiss.

♪♪

- The moment has come, Barnabas.

How I wish I could be there when you feel the pain.

I wish I could see the look on Josette's face.

- Barnabas? What is it?

- I don't know!

I can't breathe!

- Barnabas, my darling. Sit down here.

- I feel as if something is choking me.

Help me, Josette!

- I want to help you but I -- I don't know what to do!

- The room is getting darker.

I can't see.

Josette, where are you?

- I'm here, my darling. I'm beside you.

I shan't leave you here.

- Get someone to help me, quickly!

- Yes, my darling!

- Ah! - Barnabas!

- Oh!

♪♪

[eerie music] ♪♪